Cape Town – An Eastern Cape who claimed her husband had died in a motor vehicle accident – when he had actually fallen off a bridge – has appeared in the Gqeberha New Law Court.
The 42-year Marlene Pietersen appeared in the Gqeberha New Law Court yesterday on fraud allegations after her arrest by the Hawks' Serious Commercial Crime Investigation team on the same day.
On April 24, 2018, Pietersen allegedly submitted a false Road Accident Fund (RAF) claim on behalf of her husband, Niklaas Gallant, who had died after falling off a bridge. She claimed he had died in a motor vehicle accident that occurred in Joubertina on July 7, 2014, the Hawks said in a statement on Wednesday.
’’The RAF discovered inconsistencies and then lodged a complaint with the Hawks, which culminated in the arrest of Pietersen on 5 October 2021. The RAF was rescued from a potential prejudice of R700 000,’’ the Hawks said.
In March, an Eastern Cape widow, Nyameka Katshwa, 48, was arrested more than a decade after an alleged fraudulent RAF claim.
Katshwa made a fraudulent claim against the RAF on July 14, 2007 after her husband had died after a car accident.
She successfully claimed R514 000 from the RAF on behalf of her stepchildren but allegedly spent the money on herself.
IOL